History of the Bra

The bra has come a long way since it’s inception—here’s a look at how the brassiere as we know came to be

ALEXANDRA DURON

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1907: It's All in the Name
American Vogue uses the word "brassiere" for the first time. A few years later, in 1911, it appears in the Oxford English Dictionary.

1914: Hand Me a Hanky
Mary Phelps Jacob, a New York City socialite, receives a patent for inventing the modern bra. She used two handkerchiefs and a pink ribbon to create the "Backless Brassiere." Although not the first design, it was definitely the first to be widely used. She eventually sold the patent to the Warner Brothers Corset Company.

1918: The Decline of the Corset
Surprisingly, World War I contributed to the decline of corset-use in America. American women entered the workforce in great numbers and the corset was deemed an impractical and awkward device that no longer seemed appropriate. The U.S. War Industries Board could also use the extra 28,000 tons of metal that corset manufacturing required. It was enough steel to make two battleships!